Word Origin & History

hedonist 1822, in reference to the Cyrenaic school of philosophy that deals with the ethics of pleasure, from Gk. hedonikos "pleasurable," from hedone "pleasure," related to hedys "sweet" (see sweet). A hedonist is properly the follower of any ethical system in which the highest good is some sort of pleasure. The Epicurian identifies this with the practice of virtue.

Example Sentences for hedonist

Youre a hedonist, Phineas, said Doggie, after a thoughtful pause.

Then the hedonist in her revolted against that ascetic vision.

Thus what really occurs is precisely opposite to the hedonist's contention.

The riches of wisdom consist for the hedonist in their purchase of pleasure.

She knew him to be a hedonist, a materialist, a man who had very few scruples.

But to be a hedonist implies a certain process of reasoning, a deliberate choice of known pleasures, a rejection of known pains.

He is perhaps the only perfectly frank and unmitigated "hedonist" which European literature at this hour offers.

Walter Pater's fear that the word "hedonist" would be suspected as immoral came true in Wilde's books.

If a man chances to be a Hedonist, he should show the good temper which is the best virtue of the indolent.

Kant is at one with the hedonist as regards the natural object of desire; it is pleasure.